9 



of the rough cliffs fronting Ballygilbert Hill down to the road 

 is covered with fallen masses of chalk rocks that ages ago 

 formed the continuation of the beds hundreds of feet above, and 

 are now broken and scattered in the wildest confusion over 

 acres of ground, covering the retreat of thousands of rabbits, 

 and sheltering the hardy shrubs that grow in the narrow clefts 

 between them. Many of these rocks contain hundreds of tons : 

 their enormous dimensions, irregularity of shape, dazzling 

 white colour, and interspersed foliage, form a gigantic rockery 

 of the grandest character. At Macauley's Head, close to 

 Glenarm, a totally different scene occurs. Instead of being 

 scattered and broken, the pure white rocks rise up from the 

 road on the left almost perpendicularly, and are capped by the 

 trap, making a total height of 350 feet, great blocks of rocks 

 overhanging and seeming ready to fall at a touch, while the 

 sea washes close up to the road on the other side, where in 

 storms it makes a clean breach over, and mixes its spray with 

 the falling torrents from the cliffs. 



At Glenarm the party placed themselves under the guidance 

 of Dr. Holden, who conducted them over Glenarm Park and 

 gardens, belonging to the Earl of Antrim — in the former, a 

 famous hunting-ground for botanists, good specimens of the 

 bird's nest orchis (Neottia Nidus avis) and quaking grass 

 (Briza media) were collected. The extensive park scenery, 

 well kept grounds, and excellent gardens, excited the admira- 

 tion of each of the party, and the courtesy of Messrs. Good and 

 Brunton from the Castle was thoroughly appreciated. 



Passing Carnlough, and its fashionable villas, sandy beach, 

 busy pier, and crowded shipping, they soon reached Garron 

 Point. The two great step-like hills or masses of rocks, each 

 of a hundred feet rise, originally formed part of Knockore Hill, 

 a thousand feet above their present level. The tilted nature of 

 the strata, and the fissured condition of the masses, clearly 

 indicate a vast slip over the surface of the underlying marls, 

 how long ago ? — aye, how long % On the lower of those slips 

 Garron Tower is built, the residence of the late Mar- 

 chioness of Londonderry, and now the Summer retreat of Earl 

 Vane. Between Garron Point and Bed Bay, or the entrance 



